While Floridians were donning lightweight sweaters and thicker socks for our short bursts of winter weather, Kim Slade was piling on heavy jackets, scarves, hats and mittens as she braved the Alaskan wilderness.

Slade was no stranger to the brutal cold and rough terrain. Back in 2007, the Glendale Elementary School instructor had earned the coveted title of Teacher on the Trail for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Only one educator is chosen annually to spend more than a month in Alaska following the racers, called mushers, and their teams of sled dogs. Slade’s responsibility was to bring the experience of what is known as The Last Great Race to schoolchildren around the world.

To celebrate this year’s 20th anniversary of the Iditarod’s Teacher on the Trail program, she was thrilled to be invited back last month for a repeat of what she had thought was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Starting blocks

The Iditarod was created in 1973 and covers 1,000 miles, from Anchorage to Nome. Although there is a cash payout to the top finishers, most mushers brave the unforgiving environment simply for the honor of completing this grueling course.

Twenty years ago, the Teacher on the Trail component was added, to develop a curriculum based on the race that students can relate to and learn from.

When Slade discovered the program and started using it in the classroom, she got results.

“At that point in my career, I was teaching all elementary school grade levels as an academic coach,” she recalled. “Regardless of the students’ ages, everyone found great interest in the Iditarod.

“Students were excited to learn about the dogs, the race, the state of Alaska and the people who lived there. Following the journey of the Teacher on the Trail gave the kids a unique way to learn something new.”

Soon after she realized how much the race intrigued her students, Slade was given the opportunity to attend the Iditarod Summer Camp for Teachers in Anchorage.

“I learned so much more about the race and how it’s used as an educational tool for kids,” she said. “I was so inspired that I decided to apply to be a Teacher on the Trail myself.”

She also brought a piece of her family home from that trip: an Alaskan Husky pup. Kenai became an unofficial mascot for the race to her students, as she helped bring countless lessons to life.

Rigorous

The application process was extensive to become a Teacher on the Trail, taking Slade many weeks to complete, followed by several interviews that led to her becoming a finalist.

“I couldn’t believe it when I learned that I was the teacher selected,” she said. “It was such an exciting time for myself, my family and my students.”

During her time in Alaska, Slade journeyed the trail and developed a curriculum that was posted on the Iditarod website for educators and students. She created lesson plans and activities for children to do at home, as well as posted pictures and journals of her daily adventures.

She was able to Skype with her students several times, answering questions about her experiences.

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“The Iditarod is truly an amazing event,” she says. “The people in the villages, the volunteers that come from all over the world, the mushers and the dogs all made my adventure something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

Happy return

This past February when Slade returned to Alaska, she was chosen to assist with the Jr. Iditarod Race: a 150-mile course for 13- to 17-year-olds.

“This was such a cool experience,” she said. “I rented a bush plane and flew out to the halfway checkpoint for the kids. I was able to watch 11 amazing young people do their thing, help out where I could and listen to stories from the trail from veteran mushers who came back to help.”

During the next week, she attended the Iditarod Educator’s Winter Conference and participated in the Celebratory Start of the 2018 Iditarod. She also got to meet and share stories with other former Teachers on the Trail.

A major highlight of the trip? She was able to ride a snowmobile along the trail to wish the racers good luck as they got underway.

Horizons

Many of Slade’s lesson plans are derived from her Iditarod experiences. Math might include the price differences found in grocery stores along the trail. Geography might examine Alaska’s varying terrain. Science could cover the weather patterns racers endure.

Students recently developed prototypes of how they would build their own dog sleds.

“Many of our students never leave the state of Florida, yet they are expected to understand the differences they’d find if they did,” Slade pointed out. “These lessons really help broaden their horizons.”

While Slade has no immediate plans to hit the trail again soon, she will always treasure her time there.

“This has been the experience of a lifetime,” she said. “Thankful doesn’t even begin to describe it.”

Slade’s curriculum and blog can be found on the Iditarod website, along with those from other Teachers on the Trail, at www.iditarod.com. The Education tab is a wealth of information and has tons of great resources for teachers, home schoolers, and parents alike.